Network-controlled wtru address/anchor selection

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus are provided to enable or aid network-controlled selection of an IP address (and anchor) to be used by a WTRU on an application/service basis. In one example, a method is provided for a WTRU to establish a link with a gateway, transmit a query related to a selected application via the gateway, receive an advertisement for an internet protocol (IP) address, and use the IP address to communicate via the gateway with respect to the selected application. It may be assumed that there are more than one possible IP address/anchor available for the WTRU to use, as it might be the case in a mobility environment, in which an operator can provide addresses with different mobility capabilities.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/768,140, filed Feb. 18, 2014 and PCT/US2014/016966, filed Feb. 18,2014, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No.61/765,411, filed Feb. 15, 2013, the content of which is herebyincorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND

A mobile operator may decide to deploy or configure its network in sucha way that several types of internet protocol (IP) addresses are madeavailable for use for attaching wireless transmit/receive units (WTRUs).Each of these types of IP addresses may be associated with differentmobility capabilities. A non-exhaustive list of types of IP addressesincludes the following: IP mobility enabled, centrally anchored; IPmobility enabled, locally anchored (i.e., handled by a distributedmobility management (DMM) mechanism), only valid for localcommunications/services; IP mobility enabled, locally anchored (i.e.,handled by a DMM mechanism), valid for global communications/services;and, Non-IP mobility enabled, only valid for localcommunications/services. Non-IP mobility enabled, valid for globalcommunications/services.

Note that the selection of a particular IP address might also imply orrequire a particular anchor choice. For example, when an IP mobilityenabled, locally anchored, address is selected, there may be more thanone potential local anchor available.

SUMMARY

A method and apparatus are provided to enable or aid network-controlledselection of the IP address (and anchor) to be used by the WTRU on anapplication/service basis. In one example, a method is provided for aWTRU to establish a link with a gateway, transmit a query related to aselected application via the gateway, receive an advertisement for aninternet protocol (IP) address, and use the IP address to communicatevia the gateway with respect to the selected application. It may beassumed that there are more than one possible IP address/anchoravailable for the WTRU to use, as it might be the case in a mobilityenvironment in which an operator can provide addresses with differentmobility capabilities (e.g., no IP mobility enabled only valid for localcommunications/services, no IP mobility enabled valid for globalcommunications, IP mobility enabled locally anchored, IP mobilityenabled centrally anchored, and the like).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more detailed understanding may be had from the following description,given by way of example in conjunction with the accompanying drawingswherein:

FIG. 1A is a system diagram of an example communications system in whichone or more disclosed embodiments may be implemented;

FIG. 1B is a system diagram of an example wireless transmit/receive unit(WTRU) that may be used within the communications system illustrated inFIG. 1A;

FIG. 1C is a system diagram of an example radio access network and anexample core network that may be used within the communications systemillustrated in FIG. 1A;

FIG. 2 is a system diagram which illustrates an example of usage ofdifferent types of IP addresses;

FIG. 3 is a system diagram which illustrates an example of distributedmobility management (DMM) based network architecture;

FIG. 4 is a system diagram which illustrates a distributed gateway(D-GW) exposing itself towards a WTRU as multiple routers;

FIG. 5 is a system diagram which illustrates an example D-GW logicalinterface concept;

FIG. 6 is a system diagram which illustrates an exampleapplication-tailored IP address selection scenario;

FIG. 7A is a system diagram which illustrates an example scenario inwhich a WTRU is roaming within a dense DMM environment;

FIG. 7B is a continuation of the system diagram of FIG. 7A, whichillustrates an example scenario in which a WTRU is roaming within adense DMM environment;

FIG. 8 is a message sequence chart which illustrates an example ofaddress-deprecation based domain name system (DNS)-triggered IPaddress/anchor selection;

FIG. 9A is message sequence chart which illustrates an example ofaddress-deprecation based DNS-triggered IP address/anchor selection withmultiple applications;

FIG. 9B is a continuation of the message sequence chart of FIG. 9A,which illustrates an example of address-deprecation based DNS-triggeredIP address/anchor selection with multiple applications;

FIG. 10A is a message sequence chart which illustrates an example ofaddress-deprecation based DNS-triggered IP address/anchor selection witha more specific route and with multiple applications;

FIG. 10B is a continuation of the message sequence chart of FIG. 10A,which illustrates an example of address-deprecation based DNS-triggeredIP address/anchor selection with a more specific route and with multipleapplications;

FIG. 11A is a message sequence chart which illustrates an example of DNScontrolled IP address/anchor selection with multiple applications;

FIG. 11B is a continuation of the message sequence chart of FIG. 11A,which illustrates an example of DNS controlled IP address/anchorselection with multiple applications;

FIG. 12 is a message sequence chart which illustrates an example ofAPN-based anchor selection;

FIG. 13A is a message sequence chart which illustrates an example of anetwork-based mobility solution;

FIG. 13B is a continuation of the message sequence chart of FIG. 13A,which illustrates an example of a network-based mobility solution;

FIG. 14A is a message sequence chart which illustrates an example inwhich the WTRU selects as anchor a node to which it is directlyattached;

FIG. 14B is a continuation of the message sequence chart of FIG. 14A,which illustrates an example in which the WTRU selects as anchor a nodeto which it is directly attached;

FIG. 15 is a message sequence chart which illustrates an example inwhich a WTRU selects to manage its own mobility;

FIG. 16 is a message sequence chart which illustrates an example inwhich the anchor to be used by the WTRU is one of the neighboring nodes;and

FIG. 17 is a message sequence chart which illustrates an example ofsignaling for a WTRU in a dense environment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1A is a diagram of an example communications system 100 in whichone or more disclosed embodiments may be implemented. The communicationssystem 100 may be a multiple access system that provides content, suchas voice, data, video, messaging, broadcast, etc., to multiple wirelessusers. The communications system 100 may enable multiple wireless usersto access such content through the sharing of system resources,including wireless bandwidth. For example, the communications systems100 may employ one or more channel access methods, such as code divisionmultiple access (CDMA), time division multiple access (TDMA), frequencydivision multiple access (FDMA), orthogonal FDMA (OFDMA), single-carrierFDMA (SC-FDMA), and the like.

As shown in FIG. 1A, the communications system 100 may include wirelesstransmit/receive units (WTRUs) 102 a, 102 b, 102 c, 102 d, a radioaccess network (RAN) 104, a core network 106, a public switchedtelephone network (PSTN) 108, the Internet 110, and other networks 112,though it will be appreciated that the disclosed embodiments contemplateany number of WTRUs, base stations, networks, and/or network elements.Each of the WTRUs 102 a, 102 b, 102 c, 102 d may be any type of deviceconfigured to operate and/or communicate in a wireless environment. Byway of example, the WTRUs 102 a, 102 b, 102 c, 102 d may be configuredto transmit and/or receive wireless signals and may include userequipment (WTRU), a mobile station, a fixed or mobile subscriber unit, apager, a cellular telephone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), asmartphone, a laptop, a netbook, a personal computer, a wireless sensor,consumer electronics, and the like.

The communications systems 100 may also include a base station 114 a anda base station 114 b. Each of the base stations 114 a, 114 b may be anytype of device configured to wirelessly interface with at least one ofthe WTRUs 102 a, 102 b, 102 c, 102 d to facilitate access to one or morecommunication networks, such as the core network 106, the Internet 110,and/or the other networks 112. By way of example, the base stations 114a, 114 b may be a base transceiver station (BTS), a Node-B, an eNode B,a Home Node B, a Home eNode B, a site controller, an access point (AP),a wireless router, and the like. While the base stations 114 a, 114 bare each depicted as a single element, it will be appreciated that thebase stations 114 a, 114 b may include any number of interconnected basestations and/or network elements.

The base station 114 a may be part of the RAN 104, which may alsoinclude other base stations and/or network elements (not shown), such asa base station controller (BSC), a radio network controller (RNC), relaynodes, etc. The base station 114 a and/or the base station 114 b may beconfigured to transmit and/or receive wireless signals within aparticular geographic region, which may be referred to as a cell (notshown). The cell may further be divided into cell sectors. For example,the cell associated with the base station 114 a may be divided intothree sectors. Thus, in one embodiment, the base station 114 a mayinclude three transceivers, i.e., one for each sector of the cell. Inanother embodiment, the base station 114 a may employ multiple-inputmultiple output (MIMO) technology and, therefore, may utilize multipletransceivers for each sector of the cell.

The base stations 114 a, 114 b may communicate with one or more of theWTRUs 102 a, 102 b, 102 c, 102 d over an air interface 116, which may beany suitable wireless communication link (e.g., radio frequency (RF),microwave, infrared (IR), ultraviolet (UV), visible light, etc.). Theair interface 116 may be established using any suitable radio accesstechnology (RAT).

More specifically, as noted above, the communications system 100 may bea multiple access system and may employ one or more channel accessschemes, such as CDMA, TDMA, FDMA, OFDMA, SC-FDMA, and the like. Forexample, the base station 114 a in the RAN 104 and the WTRUs 102 a, 102b, 102 c may implement a radio technology such as Universal MobileTelecommunications System (UMTS) Terrestrial Radio Access (UTRA), whichmay establish the air interface 116 using wideband CDMA (WCDMA). WCDMAmay include communication protocols such as High-Speed Packet Access(HSPA) and/or Evolved HSPA (HSPA+). HSPA may include High-Speed DownlinkPacket Access (HSDPA) and/or High-Speed Uplink Packet Access (HSUPA).

In another embodiment, the base station 114 a and the WTRUs 102 a, 102b, 102 c may implement a radio technology such as Evolved UMTSTerrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA), which may establish the air interface116 using Long Term Evolution (LTE) and/or LTE-Advanced (LTE-A).

In other embodiments, the base station 114 a and the WTRUs 102 a, 102 b,102 c may implement radio technologies such as IEEE 802.16 (i.e.,Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX)), CDMA2000,CDMA2000 1×, CDMA2000 EV-DO, Interim Standard 2000 (IS-2000), InterimStandard 95 (IS-95), Interim Standard 856 (IS-856), Global System forMobile communications (GSM), Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution(EDGE), GSM EDGE (GERAN), and the like.

The base station 114 b in FIG. 1A may be a wireless router, Home Node B,Home eNode B, or access point, for example, and may utilize any suitableRAT for facilitating wireless connectivity in a localized area, such asa place of business, a home, a vehicle, a campus, and the like. In oneembodiment, the base station 114 b and the WTRUs 102 c, 102 d mayimplement a radio technology such as IEEE 802.11 to establish a wirelesslocal area network (WLAN). In another embodiment, the base station 114 band the WTRUs 102 c, 102 d may implement a radio technology such as IEEE802.15 to establish a wireless personal area network (WPAN). In yetanother embodiment, the base station 114 b and the WTRUs 102 c, 102 dmay utilize a cellular-based RAT (e.g., WCDMA, CDMA2000, GSM, LTE,LTE-A, etc.) to establish a picocell or femtocell. As shown in FIG. 1A,the base station 114 b may have a direct connection to the Internet 110.Thus, the base station 114 b may not be required to access the Internet110 via the core network 106.

The RAN 104 may be in communication with the core network 106, which maybe any type of network configured to provide voice, data, applications,and/or voice over internet protocol (VoIP) services to one or more ofthe WTRUs 102 a, 102 b, 102 c, 102 d. For example, the core network 106may provide call control, billing services, mobile location-basedservices, pre-paid calling, Internet connectivity, video distribution,etc., and/or perform high-level security functions, such as userauthentication. Although not shown in FIG. 1A, it will be appreciatedthat the RAN 104 and/or the core network 106 may be in direct orindirect communication with other RANs that employ the same RAT as theRAN 104 or a different RAT. For example, in addition to being connectedto the RAN 104, which may be utilizing an E-UTRA radio technology, thecore network 106 may also be in communication with another RAN (notshown) employing a GSM radio technology.

The core network 106 may also serve as a gateway for the WTRUs 102 a,102 b, 102 c, 102 d to access the PSTN 108, the Internet 110, and/orother networks 112. The PSTN 108 may include circuit-switched telephonenetworks that provide plain old telephone service (POTS). The Internet110 may include a global system of interconnected computer networks anddevices that use common communication protocols, such as thetransmission control protocol (TCP), user datagram protocol (UDP) andthe internet protocol (IP) in the TCP/IP internet protocol suite. Thenetworks 112 may include wired or wireless communications networks ownedand/or operated by other service providers. For example, the networks112 may include another core network connected to one or more RANs,which may employ the same RAT as the RAN 104 or a different RAT.

Some or all of the WTRUs 102 a, 102 b, 102 c, 102 d in thecommunications system 100 may include multi-mode capabilities, i.e., theWTRUs 102 a, 102 b, 102 c, 102 d may include multiple transceivers forcommunicating with different wireless networks over different wirelesslinks. For example, the WTRU 102 c shown in FIG. 1A may be configured tocommunicate with the base station 114 a, which may employ acellular-based radio technology, and with the base station 114 b, whichmay employ an IEEE 802 radio technology.

FIG. 1B is a system diagram of an example WTRU 102. As shown in FIG. 1B,the WTRU 102 may include a processor 118, a transceiver 120, atransmit/receive element 122, a speaker/microphone 124, a keypad 126, adisplay/touchpad 128, non-removable memory 130, removable memory 132, apower source 134, a global positioning system (GPS) chipset 136, andother peripherals 138. It will be appreciated that the WTRU 102 mayinclude any sub-combination of the foregoing elements while remainingconsistent with an embodiment.

The processor 118 may be a general purpose processor, a special purposeprocessor, a conventional processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), aplurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in associationwith a DSP core, a controller, a microcontroller, Application SpecificIntegrated Circuits (ASICs), Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGAs)circuits, any other type of integrated circuit (IC), a state machine,and the like. The processor 118 may perform signal coding, dataprocessing, power control, input/output processing, and/or any otherfunctionality that enables the WTRU 102 to operate in a wirelessenvironment. The processor 118 may be coupled to the transceiver 120,which may be coupled to the transmit/receive element 122. While FIG. 1Bdepicts the processor 118 and the transceiver 120 as separatecomponents, it will be appreciated that the processor 118 and thetransceiver 120 may be integrated together in an electronic package orchip.

The transmit/receive element 122 may be configured to transmit signalsto, or receive signals from, a base station (e.g., the base station 114a) over the air interface 116. For example, in one embodiment, thetransmit/receive element 122 may be an antenna configured to transmitand/or receive RF signals. In another embodiment, the transmit/receiveelement 122 may be an emitter/detector configured to transmit and/orreceive IR, UV, or visible light signals, for example. In yet anotherembodiment, the transmit/receive element 122 may be configured totransmit and receive both RF and light signals. It will be appreciatedthat the transmit/receive element 122 may be configured to transmitand/or receive any combination of wireless signals.

In addition, although the transmit/receive element 122 is depicted inFIG. 1B as a single element, the WTRU 102 may include any number oftransmit/receive elements 122. More specifically, the WTRU 102 mayemploy MIMO technology. Thus, in one embodiment, the WTRU 102 mayinclude two or more transmit/receive elements 122 (e.g., multipleantennas) for transmitting and receiving wireless signals over the airinterface 116.

The transceiver 120 may be configured to modulate the signals that areto be transmitted by the transmit/receive element 122 and to demodulatethe signals that are received by the transmit/receive element 122. Asnoted above, the WTRU 102 may have multi-mode capabilities. Thus, thetransceiver 120 may include multiple transceivers for enabling the WTRU102 to communicate via multiple RATs, such as UTRA and IEEE 802.11, forexample.

The processor 118 of the WTRU 102 may be coupled to, and may receiveuser input data from, the speaker/microphone 124, the keypad 126, and/orthe display/touchpad 128 (e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD) displayunit or organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display unit). The processor118 may also output user data to the speaker/microphone 124, the keypad126, and/or the display/touchpad 128. In addition, the processor 118 mayaccess information from, and store data in, any type of suitable memory,such as the non-removable memory 130 and/or the removable memory 132.The non-removable memory 130 may include random-access memory (RAM),read-only memory (ROM), a hard disk, or any other type of memory storagedevice. The removable memory 132 may include a subscriber identitymodule (SIM) card, a memory stick, a secure digital (SD) memory card,and the like. In other embodiments, the processor 118 may accessinformation from, and store data in, memory that is not physicallylocated on the WTRU 102, such as on a server or a home computer (notshown).

The processor 118 may receive power from the power source 134, and maybe configured to distribute and/or control the power to the othercomponents in the WTRU 102. The power source 134 may be any suitabledevice for powering the WTRU 102. For example, the power source 134 mayinclude one or more dry cell batteries (e.g., nickel-cadmium (NiCd),nickel-zinc (NiZn), nickel metal hydride (NiMH), lithium-ion (Li-ion),etc.), solar cells, fuel cells, and the like.

The processor 118 may also be coupled to the GPS chipset 136, which maybe configured to provide location information (e.g., longitude andlatitude) regarding the current location of the WTRU 102. In additionto, or in lieu of, the information from the GPS chipset 136, the WTRU102 may receive location information over the air interface 116 from abase station (e.g., base stations 114 a, 114 b) and/or determine itslocation based on the timing of the signals being received from two ormore nearby base stations. It will be appreciated that the WTRU 102 mayacquire location information by way of any suitablelocation-determination method while remaining consistent with anembodiment.

The processor 118 may further be coupled to other peripherals 138, whichmay include one or more software and/or hardware modules that provideadditional features, functionality and/or wired or wirelessconnectivity. For example, the peripherals 138 may include anaccelerometer, an e-compass, a satellite transceiver, a digital camera(for photographs or video), a universal serial bus (USB) port, avibration device, a television transceiver, a hands free headset, aBluetooth® module, a frequency modulated (FM) radio unit, a digitalmusic player, a media player, a video game player module, an Internetbrowser, and the like.

FIG. 1C is a system diagram of the RAN 104 and the core network 106according to an embodiment. As noted above, the RAN 104 may employ anE-UTRA radio technology to communicate with the WTRUs 102 a, 102 b, 102c over the air interface 116. The RAN 104 may also be in communicationwith the core network 106.

The RAN 104 may include eNode-Bs 140 a, 140 b, 140 c, though it will beappreciated that the RAN 104 may include any number of eNode-Bs whileremaining consistent with an embodiment. The eNode-Bs 140 a, 140 b, 140c may each include one or more transceivers for communicating with theWTRUs 102 a, 102 b, 102 c over the air interface 116. In one embodiment,the eNode-Bs 140 a, 140 b, 140 c may implement MIMO technology. Thus,the eNode-B 140 a, for example, may use multiple antennas to transmitwireless signals to, and receive wireless signals from, the WTRU 102 a.

Each of the eNode-Bs 140 a, 140 b, 140 c may be associated with aparticular cell (not shown) and may be configured to handle radioresource management decisions, handover decisions, scheduling of usersin the uplink and/or downlink, and the like. As shown in FIG. 1C, theeNode-Bs 140 a, 140 b, 140 c may communicate with one another over an X2interface.

The core network 106 shown in FIG. 1C may include a mobility managementgateway (MME) 142, a serving gateway 144, and a packet data network(PDN) gateway 146. While each of the foregoing elements are depicted aspart of the core network 106, it will be appreciated that any one ofthese elements may be owned and/or operated by an entity other than thecore network operator.

The MME 142 may be connected to each of the eNode-Bs 140 a, 140 b, 140 cin the RAN 104 via an S1 interface and may serve as a control node. Forexample, the MME 142 may be responsible for authenticating users of theWTRUs 102 a, 102 b, 102 c, bearer activation/deactivation, selecting aparticular serving gateway during an initial attach of the WTRUs 102 a,102 b, 102 c, and the like. The MME 142 may also provide a control planefunction for switching between the RAN 104 and other RANs (not shown)that employ other radio technologies, such as GSM or WCDMA.

The serving gateway 144 may be connected to each of the eNode Bs 140 a,140 b, 140 c in the RAN 104 via the S1 interface. The serving gateway144 may generally route and forward user data packets to/from the WTRUs102 a, 102 b, 102 c. The serving gateway 144 may also perform otherfunctions, such as anchoring user planes during inter-eNode B handovers,triggering paging when downlink data is available for the WTRUs 102 a,102 b, 102 c, managing and storing contexts of the WTRUs 102 a, 102 b,102 c, and the like.

The serving gateway 144 may also be connected to the PDN gateway 146,which may provide the WTRUs 102 a, 102 b, 102 c with access topacket-switched networks, such as the Internet 110, to facilitatecommunications between the WTRUs 102 a, 102 b, 102 c and IP-enableddevices.

The core network 106 may facilitate communications with other networks.For example, the core network 106 may provide the WTRUs 102 a, 102 b,102 c with access to circuit-switched networks, such as the PSTN 108, tofacilitate communications between the WTRUs 102 a, 102 b, 102 c andtraditional land-line communications devices. For example, the corenetwork 106 may include, or may communicate with, an IP gateway (e.g.,an IP multimedia subsystem (IMS) server) that serves as an interfacebetween the core network 106 and the PSTN 108. In addition, the corenetwork 106 may provide the WTRUs 102 a, 102 b, 102 c with access to thenetworks 112, which may include other wired or wireless networks thatare owned and/or operated by other service providers.

In contrast to current Mobile IPv6 (MIPv6) and Proxy Mobile IPv6(PMIPv6) approaches that rely on centralized entities for both controland data plane operation, distributed mobility management (DMM)approaches push mobility anchors towards the edge of the network.

The disclosure relates to mechanisms to enable or aid network-controlledselection of the IP address (and anchor) to be used by a WTRU on anapplication/service basis. The IP address selection may be from amongseveral types associated with different mobility capabilities. Forexample, a mobility enabled IP address might be required if theapplication making use of it is not able to survive an IP address changeand the WTRU is expected to change its point of attachment during thelifetime of the session. On the other hand, if an application is able tohandle IP address changes or is known to be short-lived in advance, itmight be more efficient—resource wise—to make use of an IP address thatis not mobility enabled.

The selection mechanisms may include ways for the network (for example,a DMM GW) to detect a new application flow and provide the WTRU with aparticular IP address, and may include DNS-triggered IP address/anchorselection, APN-based anchor selection or Network-controlled anchor(local or remote) selection in a dense environment.

The disclosure also relates to mechanisms to enable or aid WTRU-basedselection of the IP address (and anchor) with the assistance from thenetwork. These mechanisms may include anchor “coloring,” e.g. providinganchoring IP connectivity capabilities to the WTRU to facilitate anchorselection by the WTRU. The capabilites information may include IPconnectivity (local, global), anchored address (local, central) andmobility support (yes/no), for example.

FIG. 2 is a system diagram illustrating an overview of an examplenetwork where a WTRU 200 has configured several types of IP addresses.In this example, WTRU 200 is shown having configured three IP addresses205, 210, 215. IP address 205 is a locally anchored address which isanchored at its serving gateway, which in this case is distributedgateway D-GW2 220. IP address 210 is a centrally anchored at Packet DataNetwork Gateway (PGW) 225 via its serving gateway D-GW2 220. IP address215 is DMM enabled and is anchored at D-GW1 230 via a tunnel 235 whichis maintained between D-GW1 230 and D-GW2 220 for this purpose.

The network shown in FIG. 2 also contains a mobile communicationsnetwork (MCN) 250, home subscriber server (HSS) 255, and an additionalgateway D-GW3 260. It is noted however that various topologies arepossible which may include different elements.

FIG. 3 is a system diagram illustrating another example network. In thisexample, a Home Public Land Mobile Network (HPLMN) 300 which isconnected to the Internet 390 includes a includes a MCN 305 having a PGW310, 1155 315, an Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting server(AAA) 320, Serving Gateway (SGW) 325, a Mobility Management Entity (MME)330, and a D-GW 335.

In this architecture, other D-GW logical entities 340, 345, 350, 355 areplaced at the edge of the network, close to WTRUs 360 and 365. MultipleD-GWs exist in a DMM domain, anchoring mobility sessions of the WTRUsattached to the domain. The Distributed Logical Interface (DLIF)artifact enables each (serving) D-GW to expose itself towards each WTRUas multiple routers, one per (active) anchoring D-GW.

FIG. 4 illustrates a D-GW creating a logical interface with a WTRU foritself as serving D-GW and for each active anchoring D-GW. As shown inFIG. 4, the WTRU 400 initially attaches to D-GW1 410, configuring anIPv6 address (PrefA::UE1) from a prefix locally anchored at D-GW1 410(PrefA::/64).

At this stage, D-GW1 410 plays the role of both anchoring D-GW andserving D-GW. D-GW1 410 creates a logical interface to communicate(point-to-point link) with the WTRU, exposing itself as a (logical)router with a specific MAC (00:11:22:33:01:01) and IPv6 addresses(PrefA::1/64 and fe80:211:22ff:fe33:101/64) using the logical interfaceue1dgw1. As explained below, these addresses represent the “logical”identity of D-GW1 410 towards the WTRU 400, and will “follow” the WTRU400 while roaming within the domain (note that all this information ismaintained up-to-date on the home subscriber server (1155)).

In this example, WTRU 400 later moves and attaches to a different D-GWof the domain, which is D-GW2 420. D-GW2 creates a new logical interface(ue1dgw2) to expose itself towards WTRU 400, and provides WTRU 400 witha locally anchored prefix (PrefB::/64). Because the 1155 has informationabout other active addresses used by the WTRU 400, and about which D-GWsare anchoring WTRU 400, D-GW2 420 also creates additional logicalinterface(s) configured to exactly resemble the one(s) used by each ofthe active anchor D-GW(s) to communicate with the WTRU 420. In thisexample, D-GW1 410 is the only active anchor D-GW other than D-GW2 420,(which is the serving D-GW), and so in addition to ue1dgw2, only logicalinterface ue1dgw1 is created.

In order for the prefix anchored at D-GW1 410 to remain reachable by theWTRU 400, a tunnel 430 between D-GW1 410 and D-GW2 420 is established,and the routing is modified accordingly (note that this is done byperforming the required signaling, e.g., proxy binding update/proxybinding acknowledge (PBU/PBA) for the case of the Proxy Mobile IPv6(PMIPv6)-based solution). From a practical viewpoint, this may requiresource-based routing.

FIG. 5 illustrates the logical interface concept in more detail. Thefigure shows two D-GWs and four WTRUs. Here, D-GW1 500 is currentlyserving WTRU1 510 and WTRU2 520, while D-GW2 530 is serving WTRU3 540and WTRU4 550. WTRU1 510 has three active anchoring D-GWs: D-GW1 500,D-GW2 530 and D-GW3 (not shown). WTRU2 520 has two active anchoringD-GWs: D-GW1 500 and D-GW3 (not shown). WTRU3 540 has two activeanchoring D-GWs: D-GW2 530 and D-GW3 (not shown). Finally, WTRU4 550 hasalso two anchoring D-GWs: D-GW1 500 and D-GW2 530.

A serving D-GW typically plays the role of anchoring D-GW for anattached (served) WTRU, and each D-GW has one single physical wirelessinterface (athwifi0). Each WTRU “sees” multiple logical routers—one peractive anchoring D-GW—independent of to which serving D-GW the WTRU iscurrently attached. From the perspective of the WTRU, each anchoringD-GW (including the serving D-GW, which also functions as an anchoringD-GW) is portrayed as a different router even though the WTRU isphysically attached to a single physical interface. The serving D-GWfacilitates this by configuring different logical interfaces.

In the example of FIG. 5, WTRU1 510 is currently attached to D-GW1 500.In other words, D-GW1 500 is the serving D-GW for WTRU1 510.Accordingly, WTRU1 510 has configured an IPv6 address from D-GW1's pool(in this case PrefA::/64), and D-GW1 500 has created a logical interface(ue1dgw1) on top of its wireless physical interface (athwifi0) which isused to serve WTRU1 510. This interface has a logical MAC address (MACA), different from the hardware MAC address of the physical interfaceathwifi0 of D-GW1 (MAC 1). D-GW1 advertises its locally anchored prefixPrefA::/64 over the ue1dgw1 interface.

In the example of FIG. 5, WTRU1 510 visited and attached to D-GW2 530and D-GW3 (not shown) prior to attaching to D-GW1 500. Accordingly,WTRU1 510 configured locally anchored addresses at D-GW2 530 and D-GW3(not shown), which are still being used by WTRU1 in activecommunications. Although WTRU1 510 is no longer directly wirelesslyconnected to D-GW2 530 and D-GW3 (not shown), WTRU1 still “sees”interfaces connecting to D-GW2 530 and D-GW3 (not shown), as if it weredirectly wirelessly connected to all three D-GWs. This is facilitated byD-GW1, which configures logical interfaces ue1dgw2 and ue1dgw3 in itsrole as serving D-GW.

From the perspective of WTRU1 510, logical interfaces ue1dgw2 andue1dgw3 behave in the same way as the logical interfaces configured bythe D-GW2 530 and D-GW3 (not shown) when WTRU1 was attached to themdirectly. This means that both the MAC and IPv6 addresses configured onthese logical interfaces remain the same regardless of the physical D-GWwhich is serving the WTRU. The information required by a serving D-GW toproperly configure these logical interfaces can be obtained from the HSSor by any other means.

From an implementation point of view, several operating systems (OSs)already support the creation of different logical interfaces over thesame physical interface. Each logical interface appears as a regularinterface to the OS, and the OS supports configuring the MAC addressexposed by the logical interface. It is actually the destination MACaddress that is used by the OS to decide which logical interfaceprocesses an incoming L2 frame.

In order to enforce use of the locally anchored prefix at the servingD-GW, router advertisements sent over the logical interfacescorresponding to the non-serving anchor D-GWs may include a zero prefixlifetime parameter. The goal is to deprecate prefixes delegated byanchor D-GWs which are no longer serving the WTRU. Because of the zeroprefix lifetime, on-going communications may continue to use addressesdelegated by non-serving anchor D-GWs, but new communications cannotbegin using those addresses.

Several examples are presented herein where a WTRU attached to a mobilenetwork may benefit from network-controlled IP address/anchor selectionsupport. In these examples, it is assumed that the WTRU does not havethe intelligence to be able to select and use the right IPaddress/anchor solely on its own (this would require an enhancedconnection manager, and also of some mechanisms on the network side toconvey the information about available addresses/anchors—and theirassociated capabilities—to the WTRU). An exception is the anchor“coloring” solution presented herein, which presents a solution for thenetwork to convey information useful to the WTRU to aid it in requestingthe right type of IP address to the router it is attached to.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example of application-tailored IP addressselection. In the example, a WTRU 600 is roaming within one operator'sdomain. Here, the WTRU 600 does not have the capability and/orinformation to be able to select the most appropriate IP address, on aper-flow and/or per-application basis. Because the WTRU 600 does nothave the intelligence required to select and use an appropriate IPaddress, several problems may arise in the absence of another approach.

One potential problem is that WTRU 600 may become connected via an IPmobility enabled address for communications that do not require thesecapabilities. Examples of such communications include very shortdialogues, such as domain name system (DNS) query and response,applications that can themselves cope with IP address changes moreefficiently, and so forth. The use of an IP mobility enabled IP addressfor such communications may cause unnecessary signaling overhead andadditional traffic in the mobile operator's core with no added benefit.

Another potential problem is that WTRU 600 may become connected using anon-IP mobility enabled address for communications that require IPaddress continuity. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)) communications,for example, can require IP address continuity. The use of a non-IPmobility enabled IP address for such communications may lead tocommunication disruptions if the WTRU changes its point of attachment.

A further potential problem is that WTRU 600 may end up attempting touse an address that is meant for local communications to reach a peer onthe public Internet.

Still another potential problem is that WTRU 600 may keep using a singleIP address (anchored on a node different from its current point ofattachment) even though there might be other IP addresses available forthe WTRU to use that would lead to more optimal paths.

In the example of FIG. 6, it is assumed that the WTRU 600 was initiallyattached to D-GW1 610 (this attachment is not shown in FIG. 6) andrequested to play a certain video which is available via a contentdistribution network (CDN). Here, the requested video is available at aCDN cache node 620 which is locally connected to D-GW1 610. Based on thenature of the communication (i.e. video) and the fact that it is likelythat the WTRU 600 may move (i.e. no longer be directly wirelesslyconnected to D-GW1 610) during the duration of the video, the networkmay decide to provide the WTRU 600 with an IP mobility enabled, locallyanchored address 660 (PrefNetDMM::/64), to be used by the videoapplication. It is noted that throughout the specification reference maybe made to decisions made or other actions taken by the network, and itis understood that this may mean that the decision or action is made bythe serving node (e.g. D-GW2 630 in this case) or another network devicein communication with the WTRU, serving node, or anchoring node asappropriate.

WTRU 600 later moves and attaches to D-GW2 630 (as shown in FIG. 6). Thecontinuity of the video session is maintained by the distributedmobility management (DMM) mechanism deployed in the network.

While attached to D-GW2 630, the user may decide to post some content toa social network 640 (e.g., Twitter™). Since this traffic is short-livedand can easily cope with an IP address change (e.g. because each postingis a different TCP session), the network may decide to provide the WTRU600 with a non IP mobility enabled address 670 (PrefLocal::/64) to beused by the social network application.

Lastly in this example, the user may begin a phone call with a fixedphone 650 attached to the PSTN. Because this call must be routed via themobile operator's core network, and because it is likely that the userwill move during the lifetime of the call, the network may decide toassign the user a mobility-enabled, centrally anchored IP address 680(PrefCent::/64) for this traffic.

Selecting IP addresses by analyzing application requirements on thenetwork side in this way may allow “legacy” WTRUs to benefit fromrational IP address choices (also helping improve the overall networkefficiency); and may allow taking network formation/status intoconsideration in the decision.

A WTRU mobility pattern-tailored anchor selection is also possible. In adense environment, a WTRU may likely change its point of attachmentfrequently. If the WTRU is using an IP mobility enabled, locallyanchored address (i.e., using a DMM solution), each point of attachmentmay be a potential anchor for an IP address. However it might beadvantageous not to assign an IP address on each attachment, but tocarefully select which nodes play the role of anchors. Note that if theWTRU configures a different IP address on each attachment point (whichthen plays the role of anchor for the assigned address), the WTRU mayeasily end up having many IP addresses configured. Further, in order tomaintain the accessibility of those IP mobility enabled addresses, thenetwork has to keep an updated tunnel between the anchor of each IPaddress and the node to which the WTRU is currently attached. This notonly may add network state, but also may introduce signaling andhandover delays. From the perspective of the node to which the WTRU iscurrently attached, network state may refer to the IP addresses of theanchors of each IP address, as well as the IP prefix or prefixes to beanchored. From the perspective of the anchors, network state may referto an IP address of the node to which the WTRU is attached, as well asthe IP prefix or prefixes anchored, for example. Further, in this kindof dense environment, even if the WTRU is not moving quickly, it mightbe changing its point of attachment quite often. It may therefore bedesirable to avoid configuring a new IP address on each attachment,which may easily lead to a significant number of anchors beingsimultaneously used by the WTRU. Note that in a non-dense environment,even for a fast-moving WTRU the number of handovers may be lower.Therefore, it may be more efficient to pre-select which nodes anchor anIP address. This can be seen as introducing a kind of hierarchicalstructure in the network, as out of all the potentially visited nodes,only a few of them will play the role of anchors. This may savebandwidth utilization in the network, and may reduce the complexity andissues arising from frequently changing or adding IP addresses on theterminal.

The anchor selection may take into consideration different kinds ofinformation, such as an expected mobility pattern of the WTRU (based onprevious historic recorded patterns or other information that thenetwork might have on current WTRU movement), as well as theconnectivity requirements of an application running on the WTRU (i.e.,not all the anchors may have the same load or provide connectivity withthe same quality to peer(s) with which the WTRU is communicating).

FIGS. 7A and 7B each illustrate an example of a scenario in which a WTRU700 is roaming within a dense DMM environment.

FIG. 7A illustrates an example where each previously visited attachmentpoint becomes an anchor. In this example, the anchor nodes for WTRU 700are nodes 710 (D-GW1), 720 (D-GW2), 730 (D-GW3), and 740 (D-GW4), whichwere each previously attached to WTRU 700. As shown, WTRU 700 iscurrently attached to a serving node, which in this case is node 760(D-GW6). Serving node 760 maintains a tunnel connection 715, 725, 735,745, with each of the anchor nodes 710, 720, 730, 740 respectively sothat WTRU 700 may reach the anchored prefixes from serving node 760.

As can be seen in FIG. 7A, WTRU 700 will become attached to stillfurther serving nodes if it continues to move through the dense DMMenvironment shown, and that it will be necessary for each of theseserving nodes to establish tunnel connections with all of the previousserving nodes in order for WTRU 700 to reach anchored prefixes from eachnew serving node. The complexity and overhead associated withestablishing and maintaining these tunnel connections and anchoredprefixes will mount accordingly, and in a dense DMM environment such asshown in FIG. 7A, it may not be efficient for each serving node tobecome an anchor for IP addresses assigned to WTRU 700.

FIG. 7B illustrates an example where only one of the nodes in the groupof D-GWs plays the role of anchor. In this example, node 750 (D-GW5) isselected as the anchor node for WTRU 700 when it is attached to any ofthe group of nodes shown, and as a consequence only one tunnel 755 willbe required for each successive serving node. It should be noted thatnode 750 remains the sole anchor for the group of nodes even if WTRU 700attaches to node 750 as a serving node, in which case no tunnel would berequired.

A DNS-triggered solution for the network to detect a new applicationflow and provide the WTRU with a particular IP address, as well as anaddress-deprecation based approach and a specific-route based approachare also possible.

FIG. 8 is a message sequence chart illustrating example signaling foraddress-deprecation based DNS-triggered IP address and anchor selection.

In step 800, WTRU 805 attaches to a network via an access router (whichis a distributed gateway designated as D-GW1 810 in this example,although other types of access router may be used in variousimplementations). In step 815, D-GW1 810 initially assigns an IP addressto WTRU 805 following a default policy (which might be specific per useror generic). In this example, the default policy is to assign a locallyanchored, non-IP mobility enabled prefix (PrefLocal::/64), and thisprefix is advertised to WTRU 805 in message 820.

In step 825, WTRU 805 may configure an IP address (PrefLocal::UE1/64)using the prefix received in message 820. WTRU 805 may set a defaultroute via D-GW1 810.

In step 830, a user of WTRU 805 starts a new application, which triggersa session dialogue using the configured prefix. In this case, the firstpacket sent is a DNS query 835 which is sent to DNS server 840 via D-GW1810. In this example, the DNS query solicits the IP address of a server895 where app_server.foo.xyz.com is hosted. It is noted that it istypical for application dialogues to begin by resolving DNS names.

The response 845 to query 835 is intercepted 850 by D-GW1 810 which mayanalyze either or both of the name and the resolved IP address oraddresses against a database to attempt to identify the type ofapplication that the user is starting, and the associated mobilitycapability requirements. It is noted that the access router may beco-located with a local DNS resolver (i.e., D-GW1 810 may be co-locatedwith DNS server 840) but in either case a DNS response will necessarilytraverse the access router, where it may be intercepted. It is notedthat in some implementations the DNS query itself may be intercepted andanalyzed rather than the DNS query response.

This application-type and mobility-capability information, possiblytogether with other available information about the WTRU 805 (e.g.,mobility pattern, speed, and the like), may be used in a step 855 toselect an appropriate type of IP address/anchor that should be used forthis session. D-GW1 810 may also, in step 855, then deprecate the localaddress previously configured, including sending a message 860 to WTRU805 (which may deprecate the local address in a step 870), and advertisethe new local address (e.g. IP mobility enabled locally anchoredaddress, mobility-enabled centrally anchored IP address, and the like),including sending a message 865 to WTRU 805 (which may configure the newlocal address in a step 875). In a step 880, D-GW1 810 may also forwardthe DNS response 845, so that in a step 885 the WTRU 805 may then startthe application session, using the appropriate IP address/anchorselected by the network for transmitting and receiving applicationtraffic 890 to and from application server 895.

FIGS. 9A and 9B together are another message sequence chart illustratingexample signaling for address-deprecation based DNS-triggered IP addressand anchor selection. The message sequence chart of FIGS. 9A and 9B issimilar to FIG. 8 and further illustrates how the network may decideupon, advertise, and configure appropriate IP addresses for a WTRU 900that is running multiple applications/services simultaneously.

In step 902, WTRU 900 attaches to a network via an access router (whichis a distributed gateway designated as D-GW1 904 in this example,although other types of access router may be used in variousimplementations). In step 906, D-GW1 904 initially assigns an IP addressto WTRU 900 following a default policy (which might be specific per useror generic). In this example, the default policy is to assign a locallyanchored, non-IP mobility enabled prefix (PrefLocal::/64), and thisprefix is advertised to WTRU 900 in message 908. In step 910, WTRU 900may configure an IP address (PrefLocal::UE1/64) using the prefixreceived in message 908.

In step 912, a user of WTRU 900 starts a new application, which triggersa session dialogue using the configured prefix. In this example, thefirst packet sent may be a DNS query 914 which is sent to DNS server916. In this example, the DNS query solicits the IP address of a server935 where app_server.foo.xyz.com is hosted. The response 918 to thisquery may be intercepted 920 by D-GW1 904, which may analyze either orboth of the name and the resolved IP address or addresses against adatabase to attempt to identify the type of application that the user isstarting, and the associated mobility capability requirements. It isnoted that the access router may be co-located with a local DNS resolver(i.e., D-GW1 904 may be co-located with DNS server 916, for example) butin either case a DNS response will necessarily traverse the accessrouter, where it may be intercepted. It is noted that in someimplementations the DNS query itself may be intercepted and analyzedrather than the DNS query response.

This application-type and mobility-capability information, possiblytogether with other available information about the WTRU 900 (e.g.,mobility pattern, speed, and the like) may be used in a step 922 toselect an appropriate type of IP address/anchor that should be used forthis session. D-GW1 904 may also in step 922 then deprecate the localaddress previously configured, including sending a message 924 to WTRU900 (which may deprecate the local address in a step 926), and advertisethe new local address (PrefA::/64), including sending a message 928 toWTRU 900 (which may configure the address in a step 930). In a step 932,D-GW1 904 may also forward the DNS response 917, so that in a step 934,the WTRU 900 may then start the application session (APP A), using anappropriate IP address/anchor selected by the network for transmittingapplication traffic 936 to and from application server 935.

Once the WTRU 900 has started the application flow, D-GW1 904 may in astep 938 deprecate the previously assigned address and announce againthe locally anchored prefix, which is advertised as a default followingthe default policy discussed above. Alternatively, D-GW1 904 may in step940 wait for the WTRU 900 to start a new application and then deprecatethe previously assigned address and announce again the locally anchoredprefix specified by the default policy discussed above. In either case938, 940, the D-GW1 904 may at the appropriate time transmit adeprecation message 942 to WTRU 900 (which may deprecate the localaddress in a step 944) and transmit an advertisement message 946 to WTRU900 (which may configure the new local address in a step 948). It isnoted that even if PrefA::/64 is deprecated, the WTRU 900 may continueusing it for traffic 976 during the lifetime of the application APP Asession 974.

If in a step 950 the WTRU 900 starts a new application (APP B), the sameprocess may be repeated. In this case, D-GW1 904 may in a step 956intercept a response 954 to DNS query 952 (for app_server.foo.uvw.com)which is sent to DNS server 916. In a step 958, D-GW1 904 may thenanalyze the response 954 from DNS server 916, and select an appropriatetype of IP address to be used by the WTRU 900 for APP B.

D-GW1 904 may then advertise a prefix of this type (in this example,PrefB::/64) including sending a message 964 to WTRU 900 (which mayconfigure a new IP address configured from that prefix at step 966).D-GW1 904 may also deprecate the local address that was previouslyconfigured, and send an appropriate message 960 to WTRU (which maydeprecate the local address in a step 962).

In a step 968 the D-GW1 904 may forward DNS response 954 to WTRU 900. Ina step 970, WTRU 900 may begin using the newly configured IP address forAPP B communication flow 972. Once the WTRU 900 has started using thenewly configured address, D-GW1 904 may deprecate PrefB::/64 andannounce the locally anchored prefix.

FIGS. 10A and 10B together are a message sequence chart illustrating anexample of a more specific route based DNS-triggered IP address/anchorselection approach which is similar to the address deprecationapproaches described with respect to FIGS. 8, 9A and 9B, but rather thanthe network deprecating addresses to force the WTRU to use a particularaddress, this goal is achieved instead by advertising more specificroutes. FIGS. 10A and 10B illustrate an example message sequencecovering a case involving multiple applications.

In step 1004, WTRU 1000 may attach to a network via an access router(which is a distributed gateway designated as D-GW1 1002 in thisexample, although other types of access router may be used in variousimplementations). In step 1006, WTRU 1000 is initially assigned an IPaddress by D-GW1 1002 following a default policy (which might bespecific per user or generic). In this example, the default policy is toassign a locally anchored, non-IP mobility enabled prefix(PrefLocal::/64), and this prefix is advertised to WTRU 1000 in message1008. In step 1010, WTRU 1000 may configure an IP address(PrefLocal::UE1/64) using the prefix received in message 1008.

In step 1012, a user of WTRU 1000 may start a new application (APP A),which triggers a session dialog using the configured prefix. The firstpacket sent may be a DNS query 1014 which is sent to DNS server 1016. Inthis example, the DNS query 1014 solicits the IP address of a server1018 where app_server.foo.xyz.com is hosted. The response 1020 may beintercepted 1022 by D-GW1 1002, which may analyze either or both of thename and the resolved IP address or addresses against a database toattempt to identify the type of application that is being started onWTRU 1000, and its associated mobility capability requirements. It isnoted that the access router may be co-located with a local DNS resolver(i.e., D-GW1 1002 may be co-located with DNS server 1016 for example)but in either case a DNS response may be intercepted. It is noted thatin some implementations the DNS query itself may be intercepted andanalyzed rather than the DNS query response.

This application-type and mobility-capability information, possiblytogether with other available information about the WTRU 1000 (e.g.,mobility pattern, speed, and the like) may be used in a step 1024 toselect the most appropriate type of IP address/anchor that may be usedfor this session. D-GW1 1002 may then transmit a message 1026advertising a new prefix (PrefA::/64) and which may also include a morespecific route, for example by using a Route Information Option (RIO).The WTRU 1000 may then in a step 1028 configure the new prefix andspecific route for server 1018. D-GW1 1002 may also in a step 1030forward the DNS response 1020. The WTRU 1000 may then in step 1032 usethe IP address/anchor selected by the network to send and receiveinformation 1034 between WTRU 1000 and server 1018 in the applicationsession for APP A.

If in step 1036 the WTRU 1000 starts a new application (APP B), the sameprocess may be repeated. In this case, D-GW1 1002 may in a step 1038intercept a response 1040 to a DNS query 1042 (forapp_server.foo.uvw.com) which is sent to DNS server 1016. In a step1044, D-GW1 1002 may then analyze the response 1040 from DNS server1016, and select an appropriate type of IP address to be used by theWTRU 1000 for APP B.

D-GW1 may then send a message 1046 to WTRU 1000 advertising a prefix ofthis type (in this example, PrefB::/64) which may also include a morespecific route (e.g. using RIO) for the IP address of a server 1048where app_server.foo.uvw.com is hosted. The WTRU 1000 may then in step1050 configure the new prefix and specific route for server 1048. D-GW11002 may also in a step 1052 forward the DNS response 1040. The WTRU1000 may then in step 1054 use the IP address configured from the newprefix for the APP B communication flow 1056.

It is noted that WTRU 1000 may continue using the IP address configuredfor APP A during the lifetime of the application APP A session 1058,1060. It is also noted that in some implementations the use of thedistributed logical interface (DLIF) concept may be required. This isbecause the present default address selection mechanism specifies that anode should prefer addresses in a prefix advertised by the next-hop.Therefore, in this case if more specific routes are used, the routeannounced (i.e., the next-hop that would be stored on the routing tableof the WTRU) should be different for each announced prefix. It is alsonoted that both the address deprecation and more specific routeapproaches may also be used together.

FIGS. 11A and 11B together are a message sequence chart illustrating anexample of a DNS-triggered and controlled approach for the network todetect a new application flow and provide the WTRU with an IP address ofa particular type. In this case, the network conveys a preference for aparticular IP address in a modified DNS response. A new type of DNSregister may be required for this approach.

In a step 1102, WTRU 1100 attaches to the network via an access router(which is a distributed gateway designated as D-GW1 1004 in thisexample, although other types of access router may be used in variousimplementations). In a step 1106, WTRU 1100 is initially assigned an IPaddress following a default policy (which might be specific per user orgeneric). In this example, the default policy is to assign a locallyanchored, non-IP mobility enabled prefix (PrefLocal::/64), and thisprefix is advertised to WTRU 1100 in message 1108. In step 1110, theWTRU 1100 may configure an IP address (PrefLocal::UE1/64) using theprefix received in message 1108.

In step 1112, a user of WTRU 1100 starts a new application (APP A) whichtriggers a session dialogue using the configured prefix. The firstpacket sent may be a DNS query 1114 which is sent to DNS server 1116. Inthis example, the DNS query 1114 solicits the IP address of a server1118 where app_server.foo.xyz.com is hosted. The response 1120 to query1114 may be intercepted 1122 by D-GW1 1104, which may analyze either orboth of the name and the resolved IP address or addresses against adatabase to attempt to identify the type of application that the user isstarting, and the associated mobility capability requirements.

It is noted that the access router may be co-located with a local DNSresolver (i.e., D-GW1 1104 may be co-located with DNS server 1116 forexample) but in either case a DNS response may be intercepted.

This application-type and mobility-capability information, possiblytogether with other available information about the WTRU (e.g., mobilitypattern, speed, and the like) may be used in a step 1124 to select themost appropriate type of IP address/anchor that should be used for thissession.

If D-GW1 1104 has not already advertised an address of the selectedtype, D-GW1 1104 may then transmit a message 1126 advertising a newprefix (PrefA::/64) of the selected type. In a step 1128 WTRU 1100 mayconfigure an IP address based on this prefix.

In step 1130, D-GW1 1104 may also modify the DNS response 1120 which waspreviously intercepted. The modification may include adding a preferredsource address register to the DNS response. The modified DNS response1132 may then be forwarded to the WTRU 1100. The WTRU may then in step1134 use the selected IP address/anchor to send and receive information1136 between WTRU 1100 and server 1118 in the application session forAPP A.

If in step 1138 the WTRU 1100 starts a new application (APP B), the sameprocess may be repeated. D-GW1 1104 may intercept 1142 a response 1144to a DNS query 1140 (for app_server.foo.uvw.com) sent by WTRU 1100 toDNS server 1116. In step 1146, D-GW1 1104 analyzes the DNS response1144, which may include analyzing either or both of the name and theresolved IP address or addresses against a database to attempt toidentify the type of application that the user is starting, and theassociated mobility capability requirements.

This application-type and mobility-capability information, possiblytogether with other available information about WTRU 1100 (e.g.,mobility pattern, speed, and the like) may be used to select the mostappropriate type of IP address to be used by WTRU 1100 for APP B.

If D-GW1 1104 has not already advertised an address of the selectedtype, D-GW1 1104 may then transmit a message 1148 advertising a newprefix (PrefB::/64), of the selected type. In step 1150, WTRU 1100 mayconfigure an IP address based on the prefix.

In step 1152 D-GW1 1104 may also modify the DNS response 1144 which waspreviously intercepted, which may include adding a preferred sourceaddress register to the DNS response. The modified DNS response 1154 maythen be forwarded to the WTRU 1100. WTRU1 may then in step 1156 use theselected IP address to send and receive information 1158 between WTRU1100 and server 1160 in the application session for APP B.

It is noted that WTRU 1100 may continue using the IP address configuredfor APP A during the lifetime of the application APP A session 1162,1164. It is also noted that the approach described with respect to FIG.11 may require changes to the WTRU 1100, to enable it to receive andprocess a new type of DNS register and configure IP forwarding based onthe content of the DNS response.

FIG. 12 is a message sequence chart illustrating an example of an AccessPoint Name (APN)-based anchor selection mechanism. In this approach, thenetwork may decide the type of anchor and IP address based on an APNprovided by the WTRU.

In step 1202, WTRU 1200 may attach to a network via an access router(which is a distributed gateway designated as D-GW1 1204 in thisexample, although other types of access router may be used in variousimplementations). In step 1206, WTRU 1200 may start an application (APPA) which requires the use of a particular APN (in this exampleAPN=localMobility). This APN implies that a locally anchored IP mobilityenabled address should be provided to the WTRU 1200.

The network (i.e. D-GW1 1204 or another part of the network) may beinformed that this APN has certain requirements through severaldifferent means. For example, the APN requirements may be explicit (e.g.the WTRU 1200 knows the requirements of the application and explicitlyrequests an APN that provides that type of address) or may be inferredby the network (e.g., the APN implies a service from which the address &anchor mobility capability requirements can be derived).

WTRU 1200 may interact with a multimedia management entity (MME) 1208 tocomplete L3 attachment and a packet data network (PDN) connectivityrequest 1210, and receive a prefix advertisement 1212 (PrefDMM::UE1/64)from D-GW1 1204. In a step 1214 the WTRU 1200 may then configure theprovided address (PrefDMM::UE1/64). WTRU 1200 may use this address forthe new application session APP A 1220, to transmit and receivecommunications 1216 with server 1218 (app_server.foo.xyz.com, whichhosts the running application for APP A).

If the user later starts 1222 another application (APP B) on WTRU 1200,the same process may be repeated. In this example, for APP B theselected APN=centralMobility, which implies that the WTRU 1200 isrequesting a centrally anchored IP mobility enabled address(PrefCentral::UE1/64).

WTRU 1200 may interact with MME 1208 to complete a PDN connectivityrequest in step 1224 relating to the request for a centrally anchored IPmobility enabled address. D-GW1 1204 then signals in step 1226 therequirement for a centrally anchored prefix to P-GW 1228. P-GW 1228subsequently provides in step 1230 a centrally anchored prefix which itcommunicates in a message 1232 to D-GW1 1204. A tunnel 1234 is thenestablished in step 1236 between D-GW1 1204 and P-GW 1228 (e.g.,PMIPv6/GTP) in order to maintain the central anchoring at P-GW 1228 forthe centrally anchored prefix. WTRU 1200 may then complete in step 1238L3 configuration of the centrally anchored prefix with D-GW1 1204, andin step 1240 may configure an IP address using this prefix.

Thereafter, WTRU 1200 may use the centrally anchored IP mobility enabledIP address to transmit and receive communications 1242 with server 1244(app_server.foo.uvw.com, which hosts the running application APP B) viatunnel 1234 and P-GW 1228.

An anchor “coloring” solution may also be employed to assist the WTRU todiscover the IP connectivity capabilities of available anchors. Coloringin this sense may refer to information regarding the capabilities of aparticular anchor. For example, a router may advertise its capability toprovide both a local mobility enabled address and a centrally anchoredmobility enabled address in a router advertisement message. A routermight have very different capabilities in terms of IP address anchoring,including but not limited to: providing IP local connectivity, usinglocally anchored addresses (i.e., optimal routing path) with no mobilitysupport; providing IP global connectivity using locally anchoredaddresses (i.e., optimal routing path) with no mobility support;providing IP global connectivity, using locally anchored addresses(i.e., optimal routing path, at least while connected to this router)with IP mobility support (i.e. DMM case) where additional informationmay be provided to indicate whether the node supports client ornetwork-based DMM operation; or, providing IP global connectivity, usingcentrally anchored addresses with IP mobility support (i.e. PMIP/GTPcase).

FIGS. 13A and 13B together are a message sequence chart illustratingoperations for an example where a network-based mobility solution whichincludes anchor coloring is used.

In step 1302, the WTRU 1300 may attach to D-GW1 1304. D-GW1 1304 mayadvertise 1306 its IP capabilities and may also advertise the IPcapabilities of neighboring anchors, in this case, of D-GW2 1308. Uponattachment to D-GW1 1304, WTRU 1300 may receive a router advertisementmessage 1310 which may convey the IP connectivity/addressingcapabilities of D-GW1 1304 and D-GW2 1308. It is noted that theadvertisement of capabilities could also or instead be done using L2signaling.

In this case, D-GW1 1304 is a router capable of anchoring a localaddress with no IP mobility support, and a local address with IPmobility support. D-GW1 1304 also may signal the capabilities of aneighboring router, D-GW2 1308, which is capable of anchoring a localaddress with IP mobility support and also a centralized address with IPmobility support. Note that while D-GW1 1304 advertises neighborcapabilities in this example, other implementations are possible whereD-GW1 1304 does not advertise neighbor capabilities. These capabilitiesmay be conveyed in a new option within a router advertisement messagewhich does not need to include any prefix information option.

Based on the its knowledge of application requirements and its owncapabilities, the WTRU 1300 may in step 1312 select a type of addressand in a step 1314 request it from D-GW1 1304. In the example shown inFIG. 13, this request may be made by sending a router solicitationmessage 1316 including a new option which specifies which type ofaddress is requested. This option might include a list of types, orderedby preference, for example for cases in which the WTRU 1300 does notknow in advance the capabilities of the router, or where the router runsout of addresses for the most preferred requested type. It is noted thatin some implementations, a WTRU may transmit a request which specifies atype which type of address is requested without having received anycommunication regarding the IP mobility or anchoring capabilities of thegateway or gateways (e.g. in this example, WTRU 1300 may transmitmessage 1316 without first having received router advertisement message1310.) In this example, the WTRU 1300 is requesting a locally anchoredaddress with IP mobility support (i.e. DMM). In step 1318, D-GW1 1304assigns PrefDMM::/64 to the WTRU 1300 and performs requiredconfiguration steps, and advertises this prefix to WTRU 1300 in a routeradvertisement 1320. After receiving advertisement 1320, WTRU 1300 mayconfigure an IP address using this prefix in step 1322. It is noted thatthe IP address configuration steps after discovering the capabilities ofD-GW1 1304 and D-GW2 1308 could also be performed using the Dynamic HostConfiguration protocol (DHCP) or a technology specific protocol.

If the WTRU 1300 subsequently attaches to a different router because ofmobility reasons, or simply because it needs a different kind of addresswhich cannot be provided by the router it is attached to, but there isanother anchor reachable that can, then the same signaling proceduresmay be performed. For example, in step 1324 the WTRU 1300 needs toaccess a service provided by the mobile operator's core and in order todo that it may require a centrally anchored address. Since WTRU 1300 hasbeen informed that D-GW2 1308 can provide an address with thiscapability and that it is reachable, the WTRU 1300 may decide to attachto D-GW2 1308.

After the attachment 1326 of WTRU 1300 to D-GW2 1308 is complete, D-GW21308 may provide for continued accessibility of the previously assignedaddress PrefDMM::UE1/64 that was configured in step 1322 by performingDMM procedures, including signaling 1328 and establishing a tunnel 1330between D-GW1 1304 and D-GW2 1308.

D-GW2 1308 may advertise 1332 its IP capabilities and may also advertisethe IP capabilities of neighboring anchors, in this case, of D-GW1 1304.WTRU 1300 may receive a router advertisement message 1334 from D-GW21308 which may convey the IP connectivity/addressing capabilities ofD-GW2 1308 and D-GW1 1304. In this case, D-GW2 1308 is a router capableof anchoring a centralized address with mobility support, and in a step1336 WTRU 1300 transmits an appropriate router solicitation message 1338to D-GW2 1308 requesting a centrally anchored mobility enabled IPaddress. It is noted that WTRU 1300 may transmit the router solicitation1338 without waiting for the router advertisement 1334 if it has alreadybeen apprised of the capabilities of D-GW2 1308, as for example inrouter advertisement 1310.

In response to router solicitation 1338, D-GW2 may provide for theaccessibility of the central anchor at P-GW 1340 by performingappropriate signaling 1342 (in this example including PMIP/GTPsignaling) and establishing a tunnel 1344 between D-GW2 1308 and P-GW1340 in order to maintain the anchoring for a centrally anchored prefix.In step 1346, D-GW2 1308 also assigns an IP prefix matching therequested capabilities (i.e. centrally anchored, IP mobility enabled)and advertises the prefix to WTRU 1300 in a router advertisement 1348.WTRU 1300 may then in step 1350 configure an IP address using thisprefix.

While WTRU 1300 is attached to D-GW2 1308, traffic using PrefDMM::UE1/64(i.e. the locally anchored IP mobility enabled address) appears to betransmitted as traffic 1352 between WTRU 1300 and D-GW1 1304 (where thisaddress is anchored). However, this traffic in fact travels as traffic1354 between WTRU 1300 and D-GW2 1308, which forwards the traffic toD-GW1 1304 via tunnel 1330 (and vice-versa). Traffic usingPrefCentral::UE1/64 travels as traffic 1356 to D-GW2 1308, the currentlyconnected (serving) GW in this case, which forwards the traffic to thecentral anchor P-GW 1340 via tunnel 1344.

The example depicted in FIGS. 13A and 13B illustrates a case in whichthe WTRU 1300 selects as anchor a node to which it is directly attached(i.e. WTRU 1300 changed its point of attachment to obtain an IP addressof a type which was not available at its original point of attachment).However it is also possible to select a node other than the router towhich WTRU is directly attached as an anchor. FIGS. 14A and 14Billustrate an example of this case.

In step 1402, WTRU 1400 attaches to D-GW1 1404. D-GW1 1404 may advertise1406 its IP capabilities and may also advertise the IP capabilities ofneighboring anchors, in this case, of D-GW2 1408. Upon attachment toD-GW1 1404, WTRU 1400 may receive a router advertisement message 1410which may convey the IP connectivity/addressing capabilities of D-GW11404 and D-GW2 1408. It is noted that the advertisement of capabilitiescould also, or instead, be done using L2 signaling.

Here, D-GW1 1404 is a router capable of anchoring a local address withno IP mobility support, and a local address with IP mobility support.D-GW1 1404 also may signal the capabilities of a neighboring router,D-GW2 1408, which is capable of anchoring a local address with IPmobility support and also a centralized address with IP mobilitysupport.

Based on its knowledge of application requirements and its owncapabilities, the WTRU 1400 may in step 1412 decide that it requires alocally anchored IP-mobility enabled address. In a step 1414, WTRU 1400may decide to use D-GW2 1408 as an anchor for the locally anchoredIP-mobility enabled address, based at least in part on the informationit received in router advertisement 1410. WTRU 1400 may request alocally anchored IP-mobility enabled address that is anchored at D-GW21408 by sending a router solicitation message 1416 to D-GW1 1404, wherethis message includes information regarding the selection of D-GW2 1408as the anchor, in addition to specifying the required mobilityrequirements.

Upon receiving message 1416, D-GW1 1400 may perform signaling 1418 toobtain an IP prefix 1422 of the requested type (PrefDMM::/64 in thiscase) from D-GW2 and to establish a tunnel 1420 and state needed toenable the accessibility of that address by WTRU 1400 from D-GW2 1408via D-GW1 1404. D-GW1 may then advertise the obtained prefix(PrefDMM::/64) in a router advertisement 1424, and the WTRU 1400 mayconfigure and use an address from the prefix (PrefDMM::UE1/64) in step1426.

If in step 1428 the WTRU 1400 later requires a locally anchored (i.e.anchored at D-GW1 1404) address, for example to access to serviceslocally available at a network directly connected to D-GW1 1404, WTRU1400 may request this type of address by sending a new routersolicitation message 1430. D-GW1 may then assign a locally anchoredprefix (PrefLocal::/64) to the WTRU 1400 in a router advertisement 1432.WTRU 1400 may then in step 1434 configure an IP address using the prefix(PrefLocal::UE1/64) and begin to use it for communications. Thereafter,traffic 1438 on PrefLocal::UE1/64 may remain anchored at D-GW1 1404, andtraffic 1436 on PrefDMM::UE1/64 may remain anchored at D-GW2 1408 and beforwarded to D-GW2 1408 from D-GW1 1404 via tunnel 1420.

If a client-based mobility solution is in place, a WTRU may use theanchor coloring information to also decide which node should manage themobility of a certain flow, i.e., either the network or the terminalitself. For example, if the WTRU is attached to a node that is able toplay the role of anchor of an IP mobility enabled address, the networkmay be capable of providing mobility support to that IP address.However, a client-mobility capable WTRU could also decide to use anon-IP mobility enabled address (thus obviating the signaling andnetwork state associated with providing network-based mobility support)and manage its mobility using another node as an anchor (e.g., a homeagent at the home network of the WTRU, or locally available nodediscovered by the WTRU, which is capable of anchoring a session). Itshould be noted that it is likely that a client-mobility enabled WTRUcould attach to a network capable of providing network-based mobilitysupport, and in this case, it would be beneficial if the WTRU coulddecide which entity manages its mobility (on an address basis).

FIG. 15 is a message sequence chart illustrating an example in which aclient-mobility capable WTRU elects to manage its own mobility, byrequesting a locally anchored, non-IP mobility enabled address to D-GW1and using it as a care-of address (CoA) with a home agent (HA).

In step 1502, the WTRU 1500 may attach to D-GW1 1504. D-GW1 1504 mayadvertise 1506 its IP capabilities and may also advertise the IPcapabilities of neighboring anchors, in this case, of D-GW2 1508. Uponattachment to D-GW1 1504, WTRU 1500 may receive a router advertisementmessage 1510 which may convey the IP connectivity/addressingcapabilities of D-GW1 1504 and D-GW2 1508.

In this case, D-GW1 1504 is a router capable of anchoring a localaddress with no IP mobility support, and a local address with IPmobility support. D-GW1 1504 also may signal the capabilities of aneighboring router, D-GW2 1508, which is capable of anchoring a localaddress with IP mobility support, and a centrally anchored address withIP mobility support. Note that while D-GW1 1304 advertises neighborcapabilities in this example, other implementations are possible whereD-GW1 1504 does not advertise neighbor capabilities.

In step 1512, WTRU 1500 may decide which type of IP address it requires.In this example WTRU 1500 is client-mobility capable, and in step 1514,WTRU 1500 decides to manage its mobility requirements on its own. Tothis effect, WTRU 1500 transmits a router solicitation message 1516 toD-GW1 1504 requesting a locally anchored, non-IP mobility enabled IPprefix.

In step 1518, D-GW1 1504 then assigns an IP prefix matching therequested capabilities and performs the appropriate configuration stepswhich may include signaling and routing. D-GW1 1504 then transmits arouter advertisement message 1520 to WTRU 1500, which may configure anIP address (PrefLocal::UE1/64) using this prefix in step 1522.

In step 1524, WTRU 1500 establishes the IP address (PrefLocal::UE1/64)as its CoA with a HA (in this example, the HA is a P-GW 1530), which mayinclude appropriate signaling 1526 (e.g. DSMIPv6 signaling BU/BA) andestablishing a tunnel 1528 with the HA. It is noted that the HA may havebeen pre-provisioned by or configured via bootstrapping mechanisms.Pre-provisioning may be done for example by assigning in advance an IPaddress to the WTRU 1500, for example, by hardcoding, configurationusing dynamic or static policies and the like, or by storing the IPaddress locally (e.g. on a SIM car). Bootstrapping in this case may bedone for example by using the DSMIP tunnel establishment to obtain anHoA from P-GW or by requesting an HoA from P-GW (e.g. by sending a DHCPrequest to P-GW.

FIG. 16 is a message sequence chart illustrating an example in which theanchor to be used by the client-mobility capable WTRU is a neighboringnode (rather than a centralized P-GW as in the example of FIG. 15).

In step 1602, the WTRU 1600 may attach to D-GW1 1604. D-GW1 1604 mayadvertise 1606 its IP capabilities and may also advertise the IPcapabilities of neighboring anchors, in this case, of D-GW2 1608. Uponattachment to D-GW1 1604, WTRU 1600 may receive a router advertisementmessage 1610 which may convey the IP connectivity/addressingcapabilities of D-GW1 1604 and D-GW2 1608.

In this case, D-GW1 1604 is a router capable of anchoring a localaddress with no IP mobility support and a local address with IP mobilitysupport. D-GW1 1604 also may signal the capabilities of a neighboringrouter, D-GW2 1608, which is capable of anchoring a local address withIP mobility support and a centrally anchored address with IP mobilitysupport. In this way, WTRU 1600 may learn that a node other than the oneto which it is attached (i.e. D-GW2 1608 in this example) can be used asan anchor for a client-based mobility approach.

In step 1612, WTRU 1600 may decide which type of IP address it requires.In this example WTRU 1600 is client-mobility capable, and in step 1614,WTRU 1600 decides to manage its mobility requirements on its own. Tothis effect, WTRU 1600 may transmit a router solicitation message 1616to D-GW1 1604 requesting a locally anchored, non-IP mobility enabled IPprefix (to be used in establishing an IP address for use as a CoA).

In step 1618, D-GW1 1604 then assigns an IP prefix matching therequested capabilities and performs the appropriate configuration stepswhich may include signaling and routing. D-GW1 1604 then transmits arouter advertisement message 1620 to WTRU 1600, which may configure anIP address (PrefLocal::UE1/64) using this prefix in step 1622.

In step 1624, WTRU 1600 obtains an IP mobility enabled address anchoredat D-GW2 1608 to be used as a HA. WTRU 1600 may obtain the addressanchored at D-GW2 1608 by bootstrapping 1626 or otherwise, and mayproceed with appropriate signaling 1628 for binding to D-GW2 andestablishing a tunnel between WTRU 1600 and D-GW2 1608. In someimplementations, WTRU 1600 may instead obtain the address anchored atD-GW2 during establishment of the tunnel 1630. WTRU 1600 may then usePrefLocal::UE1/64, previously configured in step 1622, as a CoA.

FIG. 17 is a message sequence chart illustrating example signaling fornetwork-controlled anchor selection in a dense environment. This exampleassumes a very dense environment and a mobile WTRU 1700 which may attachto many different access routers (D-GWs in this example). In this case,it may be beneficial for the WTRU 1700 not to configure a differentlocal IP address for each visited D-GW, but rather for only some accessrouters to anchor sessions. Note that this approach may be used incombination with the previous solutions for deciding which kind of IPaddress should be provided.

In step 1702, WTRU 1700 attaches to the network at an access router,which in this example is a distributed gateway designated as D-GW1 1704.In step 1706, D-GW1 1704 may conduct an analysis of whether it shouldprovide a locally anchored IP address to WTRU 1700, or if another accessrouter should provide an anchor. This analysis may be based, forexample, on an expected mobility pattern of WTRU 1700 and/or applicationrequirements, and may include contacting a different network entitywhich may have the required information and/or intelligence for thispurpose (not shown). The result of this analysis may determine thatanother router, for example D-GW5 1790, should be selected as anchor.

In this case, D-GW1 1704 may exchange the required signaling 1708 withD-GW5 1790 to obtain a prefix 1710 (PrefA::/64), and may announce theprefix 1710 in a router advertisement 1712 to WTRU 1700. A tunnel 1714may also be established between D-GW1 1704 and D-GW5 1790. Because theWTRU 1700 is expected to move in this example, pre-provision signaling1716 may also be exchanged with other routers, D-GW2 1792, D-GW3 1794D-GW4 1796 and D-GW6 1798, which may potentially be visited by WTRU1700, to prepare these routers for possible attachment. In a step 1718WTRU 1700 may configure an IP address PrefA::UE1/64 based on the prefixreceived in router advertisement 1712, and may use it for itscommunications. Traffic 1720 on PrefA::UE1/64 may be encapsulatedbetween D-GW1 1704 and D-GW5 1790 via tunnel 1714.

If the WTRU 1700 changes its point of attachment from D-GW1 1704, thetunnel 1714 may need to be updated. For example, in step 1722 WTRU 1700may decide to switch its point of attachment to D-GW2 1792. In step1724, attachment to D-GW2 1792 is complete, and D-GW2 exchangesappropriate signaling 1726 with D-GW5 to obtain a prefix 1728(PrefA::/64) already allocated to WTRU 1700, and may announce the prefix1728 in a router advertisement 1730 to WTRU 1700. A tunnel 1732 may alsobe established between D-GW2 1792 and D-GW5 1790 to provide for traffic1734 to be forwarded, thus replacing the tunnel 1714 between D-GW1 1704and D-GW5 1790. It is noted that in this example, the required networkstate was pre-provisioned (not shown).

Although features and elements are described above in particularcombinations, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that eachfeature or element can be used alone or in any combination with theother features and elements. In addition, the methods described hereinmay be implemented in a computer program, software, or firmwareincorporated in a computer-readable medium for execution by a computeror processor. Examples of computer-readable media include electronicsignals (transmitted over wired or wireless connections) andcomputer-readable storage media. Examples of computer-readable storagemedia include, but are not limited to, a read only memory (ROM), arandom access memory (RAM), a register, cache memory, semiconductormemory devices, magnetic media such as internal hard disks and removabledisks, magneto-optical media, and optical media such as CD-ROM disks,and digital versatile disks (DVDs). A processor in association withsoftware may be used to implement a radio frequency transceiver for usein a WTRU, WTRU, terminal, base station, RNC, or any host computer.

What is claimed is:
 1. A wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU)comprising: a processor and a transceiver; the processor and thetransceiver configured to establish a session with a network accessdevice; the processor and the transceiver configured to determine aninternet protocol (IP) mobility requirement, from at least threepossible IP mobility requirements, of an application on the WTRU; theprocessor and the transceiver configured to transmit a request for an IPaddress, based on the IP mobility requirement of the application, whenestablishing the session; and the processor and the transceiverconfigured to receive an IP address, selected from a plurality ofavailable IP addresses, based on the IP mobility requirement, whereinthe IP mobility requirement is determined from at least three IPmobility capabilities of the network access device.
 2. The WTRU of claim1, wherein the IP mobility requirement comprises a desired capability ofthe network access device or of a second network access device incommunication with the network access device.
 3. The WTRU of claim 1,wherein the IP mobility requirement comprises a capability of a secondnetwork access device in communication with the network access device.4. The WTRU of claim 1, wherein the request comprises a dynamic hostconfiguration protocol (DHCP) communication.
 5. The WTRU of claim 1,wherein the processor and the transceiver are configured to transmit arouter solicitation, which includes the IP mobility requirement, to thenetwork access device.
 6. The WTRU of claim 1, wherein the processor andthe transceiver are configured to transmit a plurality of different IPmobility requirements, ranked by preference, to the network accessdevice.
 7. The WTRU of claim 1, wherein the processor and thetransceiver are configured to transmit the request to the network accessdevice prior to receiving any indication regarding an IP mobilitycapability of the network access device or a second network accessdevice in communication with the network access device.
 8. The WTRU ofclaim 1, wherein the request comprises a request for an IP address fromthe network access device, or from a second network access device incommunication with the network access device, based on the IP mobilityrequirement.
 9. A network access device comprising: a processor and atransceiver; the processor and the transceiver configured to establish asession with a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU); the processor andthe transceiver configured to receive a request for an IP address, basedon an IP mobility requirement of an application on the WTRU, whenestablishing the session; and the processor and the transceiverconfigured to transmit an IP address, selected from a plurality ofavailable IP addresses, based on the IP mobility requirement; whereinthe IP mobility requirement corresponds to one of at least three IPmobility capabilities of the network access device.
 10. The networkaccess device of claim 9, wherein the IP mobility requirement comprisesa desired capability of the network access device or of a second networkaccess device in communication with the network access device.
 11. Thenetwork access device of claim 9, wherein the IP mobility requirementcomprises information regarding a capability of a second network accessdevice in communication with the network access device.
 12. The networkaccess device of claim 9, wherein request comprises a dynamic hostconfiguration protocol (DHCP) communication.
 13. The network accessdevice of claim 9, wherein the processor and the transceiver areconfigured to receive a router solicitation which includes the IPmobility requirement from the WTRU.
 14. The network access device ofclaim 9, wherein the processor and the transceiver are configured toreceive a plurality of different IP mobility requirements, ranked bypreference, from the WTRU.
 15. The network access device of claim 9,wherein the processor and the transceiver are configured to receive theIP mobility requirement from the WTRU prior to transmitting anyindication regarding an IP mobility capability of the network accessdevice or a second network access device in communication with thenetwork access device.
 16. The network access device of claim 9, whereinthe network access device or a second network access device incommunication with the network access device are configured to receive arequest from the WTRU for an IP address based on the IP mobilityrequirement.
 17. A method for use in a network access device, the methodcomprising: establishing a session with a wireless transmit/receive unit(WTRU); receiving, from the WTRU, a request for an IP address, based onan IP mobility requirement of an application on the WTRU, whenestablishing the session; and transmitting, to the WTRU, an IP addressselected from a plurality of available IP addresses, based on the IPmobility requirement, wherein the IP mobility requirement corresponds toone of at least three IP mobility capabilities of the network accessdevice.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the IP mobility requirementcomprises a desired capability of the network access device or of asecond network access device in communication with the network accessdevice.
 19. The method of claim 17, wherein the IP mobility requirementcomprises information regarding a capability of a second network accessdevice in communication with the network access device.
 20. The methodof claim 17, wherein the request comprises a dynamic host configurationprotocol (DHCP) communication.